Magnetic stimulation coils and ferromagnetic components for treatment and diagnostic procedures

Abstract

An example system may include an electromagnet, a drive circuit electrically coupled to the electromagnet, and a controller configured to control the drive circuit to provide current to the electromagnet to generate a pulsing magnetic field. The electromagnet may include a first conductive winding, a second conductive winding, and a magnetic core. The first conductive winding may be crescent shaped. The first conductive winding may define an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface of the first conductive winding may include a convex portion and a concave portion. The second conductive winding may reside proximate to the concave portion of the outer surface of the first conductive winding. The outer concave segment of the first conductive winding may define a concavity, and at least a portion of the second conductive winding may reside within the concavity of the first conductive winding.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for treating or diagnosing a patient, the system comprising:
 an electromagnet comprising a first conductive winding and a second conductive winding; 
 a drive circuit electrically coupled to the electromagnet; and 
 a controller configured to control the drive circuit to provide current to the electromagnet to generate a pulsing magnetic field; 
 wherein the first conductive winding defines an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a convex portion and a concave portion, wherein the concave portion of the outer surface of the first conductive winding defines a concavity, and wherein at least a portion of the second conductive winding resides within the concavity of the first conductive winding. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first conductive winding is crescent shaped. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first conductive winding does not encapsulate the second conductive winding. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first conductive winding defines a non-circular or non-oval shape. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein, together, the first conductive winding forms a kidney shape. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second conductive winding are configured at a relative distance to one another such that when the first and second conductive windings are driven they generate at least a first and second independent stimulation zones within a brain of the patient, wherein the stimulation zones each comprise a region of the brain where an induced current is above a depolarization threshold of neurons of the brain. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first stimulation zone comprises currents moving in a first direction and the second stimulation zone comprises currents moving in a second, different direction. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second stimulation zones relate to two different functional regions of the brain. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first conductive winding comprises a first number of turns and the second conducive winding comprises a second number of turns, the first and second number of turns being different. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet further comprises a magnetic core. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic core comprises a powdered magnetic material, a laminated magnetic material, or an amorphous magnetic material. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic core comprises one or more of an alloy of iron, nickel, or cobalt. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic core comprises gadolinium, neodymium, or holmium. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic core comprises a single ferromagnetic component defining two poles, a first pole defining a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and a second pole defining a crescent cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first pole defines a first pole face and the second pole defines a second pole face, the first and second pole faces being non-planar with one another. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic core comprises a plurality of ferromagnetic components. 
     
     
       17. A system for treating or diagnosing a patient, the system comprising:
 an electromagnet comprising a first conductive winding, a second conductive winding, and a magnetic core; 
 a drive circuit electrically coupled to the electromagnet; and 
 a controller configured to control the drive circuit to provide current to the electromagnet to generate a pulsing magnetic field; 
 wherein the first conductive winding defines an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a convex portion and a concave portion, and wherein the second conductive winding resides proximate to the concave portion of the outer surface of the first conductive winding. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the magnetic core comprises a single ferromagnetic component defining two poles, a first pole defining a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and a second pole defining a crescent cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first pole defines a first pole face and the second pole defines a second pole face, the first and second pole faces being non-planar with one another. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the magnetic core comprises a powdered magnetic material, a laminated magnetic material, or an amorphous magnetic material. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first conductive winding is crescent shaped or kidney shaped. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first conductive winding defines a non-circular or non-oval shape, and wherein the first conductive winding does not encapsulate the second conductive winding. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first conductive winding comprises a first number of turns and the second conducive winding comprises a second number of turns, the first and second number of turns being different. 
     
     
       24. A system for treating or diagnosing a patient, the system comprising:
 an electromagnet comprising a first conductive winding and a second conductive winding; 
 a drive circuit electrically coupled to the electromagnet; and 
 a controller configured to control the drive circuit to provide current to the electromagnet to generate a pulsing magnetic field; 
 wherein the first conductive winding defines an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a convex portion and a concave portion, wherein the concave portion of the outer surface of the first conductive winding defines a curvature, and wherein a portion of an outer surface of the second conductive winding defines a curvature that is congruent with the curvature of the outer surface of the concave portion of the first conductive winding. 
 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the portion of the outer surface of the second conductive winding resides within a cavity defined by the outer surface of the concave portion of the first conductive winding. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the second conductive winding resides proximate to the concave portion of the outer surface of the first conductive winding. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the first conductive winding is crescent shaped or kidney shaped. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the first conductive winding defines a non-circular or non-oval shape, and wherein the first conductive winding does not encapsulate the second conductive winding. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the electromagnet further comprises a magnetic core.